title: Exchange transfusion as a life-saving intervention in three patients with different haematological malignancies with severe hyperleukocytosis where leukapheresis was not available.
abstract: Hyperleukocytosis is a rare but potentially serious complication of haematological malignancies. It is usually treated with rehydration, prevention of tumour lysis syndrome and the administration of cytotoxic therapy. Leukapheresis may be life-saving in emergency cases. In this article we describe how, in a resource-limited setting where leukapheresis was not available, manual exchange transfusion was utilised as a life-saving intervention in three patients with different haematological malignancies complicated by hyperleukocytosis. Further we outline the procedure that was carried out and evaluated possible complications associated with this rarely used practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address: claire.armour.barrett@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Vernon J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Louw
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007937:Leukapheresis / Q000379:methods*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult